Army selects vendors for nuclear microreactor project at five bases
The U.S. Army is investing $2.2 billion to install nuclear microreactors at five military installations to enhance energy security. The microreactors, which produce 1-20 megawatts of thermal energy, can operate up to a decade without refueling. Five private companies were chosen for the Janus Program, with sites including Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and Fort Drum.
The Janus Program contracts cover installations across four states, with Fort Drum in New York as the sole northern site. Each vendor will handle construction and operation of a microreactor, with work scheduled from fiscal 2027 through 2031. The Army’s broader energy resilience push includes the Black Start Exercise, which will deliberately cut power at bases between August and September to test backup systems. Currently, no commercial grid uses microreactors, and diesel remains the military’s standard emergency power source. The Department of Energy notes these units are factory-built and truck-transportable, designed to run a decade without refueling.
This initiative could reduce military dependence on external power grids, which are vulnerable to cyberattacks or physical disruption. If successful, it may set a precedent for civilian use of microreactors, though fuel transport in a national emergency remains a concern. Local communities near the five bases could see economic benefits or safety debates, while the program’s outcome may influence future federal energy policy and defense budgeting priorities.